What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
Emulsifying2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Betaine, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Morus Nigra Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycol Cetearate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientDiisopropyl Adipate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycol Cetearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Persea Gratissima Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Octocrylene, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, BHT
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
